Apparatus for Treating Objectionable Odors in Toilet Bowls

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an apparatus for removing foul odor from the stool directly from the stool area without having to first draw the foul air through the toilet closet. The apparatus includes various embodiments including a unit venting the foul air out of the toilet closet or bathroom. The apparatus includes both pressure and motion actuators for activating the fan upon the use of the toilet. Furthermore the apparatus includes a sound generation device for masking bathroom sounds and filter for treating the foul air. The apparatus may be power by household current or battery power.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/553,089, filed Sep. 2, 2009, the contents of which arehereby incorporated in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of air treatment devices andparticularly to devices for eradicating objectionable odors from toiletbowls or stools by retrofitting a standard toilet.

BACKGROUND

The most disliked aspect of today's toilet is the unpleasant odor whenusing the toilet cannot be effectively expelled from the toilet. Sincethe restroom is a small closed space associated with an individual'sprivacy, air within cannot be well circulated to overcome the problem ofstagnant and unpleasant smells.

Objectionable odors produced during normal toilet use are a source ofconcern and embarrassment to many people. Thus, the elimination ordiminution thereof has occasioned a great deal of effort and inventiveenergy.

There are various conventional ways known to reduce the pollution ofunpleasant smells, or odors, from a restroom. Such methods include theuse of ceiling fans or exhaust fans which typically discharge theunpleasant smell to the outdoors. Further methods include theintroduction to the bathroom of a deodorizer to mask the smell.

Some known systems attempt to add sufficient fragrance to the air toovercome objectionable odors. Re-odorizing the air has resulted in theannoyance and/or discomfort of many people. Indeed, the addition ofchemicals and fragrances to the atmosphere is becoming less and lessacceptable to many people. Thus a system to remove and eliminatemalevolent odors and makes no attempt to “cover-up” odors is preferredby most people.

Another approach to solving the odor removal problem around toilets isto mount a suction blower in the ceiling of the room containing thetoilet such as a bathroom. Unfortunately, the deodorizing effect broughtabout by ceiling fans is often quite inadequate and thus limited. Insuch a configuration a wall mounted switch controls the suction blowerto exhaust odorous gases present in the bathroom to the exterior of thebuilding. This approach works to a degree, but has some seriousshortcomings.

For example, the odorous gases are allowed to circulate throughout theair in the bathroom prior to being removed and exhausted. Thus, foul airis drawn though out the whole bathroom and past the user. Therefore, theperson using the toilet must smell the odorous gases in the air whichcan be quite unpleasant.

Secondly, this approach necessitates removing most or all of the airfrom the bathroom to remove the odorous gases, which is a quantity ofair at least equal to that contained in the bathroom, typically two tothree times as much. The air contained in the bathroom is typicallyheated air in the winter, which must be replaced with more heated aircausing an increase in the heating and/or electric bill. In the summer,this air might be cooled air such as in an air conditioned building,which air must be replaced with more cooled air causing an increase inthe electric bill for air conditioning.

A further example of ventilating a toilet and eliminating odors includesa toilet bowl having an auxiliary passageway built-in to the rear of thebowl and housing a water driven ventilation fan. Water valves arecoupled to use of the toilet seat so that weight placed on the seatinitiates the fan turbine which runs the fan until the weight is removedfrom the seat. Unfortunately, such a design requires replacing theconventional toilet bowl entirely which is expensive and undesirable.

Thus what is needed is an apparatus which can overcome the failings ofthe above described art while quickly and efficiently removing odorsfrom a bathroom and in particular a toilet bowl.

SUMMARY

The present invention includes an apparatus for removing foul odordirectly from the toilet stool without having to first draw the foul airthrough the bathroom. The apparatus includes various embodimentsincluding a unit venting the foul air directly out of the bathroom andan embodiment wherein the foul is treated and then returned to thebathroom. The apparatus includes both pressure and motion actuators foractivating the fan upon the use of the toilet. Furthermore the apparatusincludes a sound generation device for masking bathroom sounds and afilter for treating the foul air. The apparatus may be power byhousehold current or by battery power.

In greater detail, the apparatus for venting objectionable or foul odorsfrom a toilet bowl includes the toilet bowl having an upper rim thereonfor supporting a toilet seat. The apparatus includes a conduit beingdisposed on the upper rim of the toilet bowl and under the toilet seat.The conduit has an opening in communication with the toilet bowl fordrawing air from the bowl. A fan is fluidly connected to the conduit fordrawing air through the conduit and from the bowl within the apparatus.Additionally a filter is also fluidly connected to the fan for receivingthe drawn air and cleansing the air. An activator operatively connectedto the fan for engaging the fan upon the use of the toilet is alsoincluded.

A further embodiment includes a vent stack extending communicatinglyfrom the fan and the vent stack extending out from a dwelling into theoutside air. The apparatus may further include a fragrance dispenserwithin the conduit for treating the air drawn from the bowl. The fan maybe powered by standard electrical outlet power, by 12 volts, the 12volts provided by a plug/transformer plugging into standard electricaloutlet power, and by battery.

Regarding the activation of the apparatus, a pressure switch activatormay be attached to the conduit disposed on the upper rim of the toiletand under the toilet seat bottom surface for actuating the fan when apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the toilet seat.Furthermore the pressure switch may include a delay so that the fancontinues to be actuated for a predetermined amount of time after thepredetermined amount of pressure is no longer applied to the toiletseat.

An additional embodiment includes a sound generator operativelyconnected to the activator such that when the fan is activated music orsounds are played to mask the sounds of a user of the toilet. Theapparatus may also include a motion senor activator activating the fanat a predetermined interval.

DRAWINGS

In the Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present apparatus including theduct work between the seat and stool area for removing the foul odorconnected to a fan and filter for removing the objectionable odor fromthe foul air; and

FIG. 2 is a further embodiment of the present invention including a ventstack for removing the foul air from the bathroom and the pressureactivator between the rim and seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present apparatus is for removing foul odor directly from the toiletstool without having to first draw the foul air through the bathroom.The apparatus includes various embodiments including venting the foulair directly out of the bathroom and an embodiment wherein the foul istreated and then returned to the bathroom. The apparatus includes bothpressure and motion actuators for activating the fan upon the use of thetoilet. Furthermore the apparatus includes a sound generation device formasking bathroom sounds and filter for treating the foul air. Theapparatus may be power by household current or battery power.

Traditional air cleansing methods in a toilet setting use an exhaustsystem which draws air out of the stool and into the room before beingexhausted through the exhaust fan unit located in the ceiling. Suchsystems must first saturate the air of the room with the stool odorbefore the odor can be removed from the room. The present inventionremoves the foul odor from the stool directly from the stool areawithout having to first draw the foul air through the air of the toiletcloset.

The present invention includes various embodiments including a conduithaving various configurations which draws air from the stool areabetween the toilet seat and stool. A fan draws the foul air of the stoolarea through the duct work and past a filter removing the objectionableodors from the removed stool air. The filter may be any known air filtersuch as activated charcoal or the like. However, the present inventionis not limited by any single type of filter. In a further embodiment thefoul air may be drawn into an existing air duct or vent stack.

Fans employed in the present apparatus may be powered by such knownmeans as portable sources such as batteries or hard wired into thehouse. The fan may be mounted to the toilet or the fan may beincorporated into the drywall of the dwelling housing the toilet. Thefan may run as a quiet mode or an apparatus may be included which playsmusic or some type of prerecorded sound when the unit is activated.Recorded sound may be used to mask the sound of a person using thetoilet to avoid embarrassment. The fan may be controlled by a switch,motion sensor, or pressure sensor when one sits on the toilet seat.

A further embodiment contemplates a portable device for traveling or thelike. Furthermore the unit may be modified for use with bedpans for usein hospitals or nursing homes. The unit may be modified by use of a hosefrom a fan in a wall or a unit attached to the bed or built into thebedpan. Additionally, the unit may use dc power.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsindicate like items throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-2 depict theapparatus for venting foul odors from a toilet bowl in variousembodiments of the present invention.

The present apparatus is shown generally in FIG. 1 for ventingobjectionable odors from a toilet bowl 6 and cleansing the air through afilter 16. The toilet 4 has a bowl 6, a seat 8, an upper rim 24 and aflush handle 10. The present apparatus 2 comprises a conduit 12, a fan14, a filter 16 and an activator 18. The conduit 12 communicates withthe bowl 6 of the toilet 4. The fan 14 is in communication with theconduit 12 and is for venting the objectionable odors from the toilet 4.Typically the fan 14 is housed within the conduit 12. The activator 18is operatively connected to the fan 14 for engaging the fan 14.

The conduit 12 is generally Y-shaped tapering from a wider first openingoperatively connected to the bowl 6 to a narrow second opening fluidlyconnected to the fan 14. However, the conduit 12 can take any form orshape and may have a plurality of apertures opening up into the toiletbowl 6 for removing foul odors.

As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 2, the apparatus may further comprisea vent stack 20. The vent stack 20 extends communicatingly from the fan14 and extending out from a dwelling into the outside air.

An activator 18 is in communication with the fan 14 to selectivelyactuate the fan 14. The activator 18 as shown in FIG. 1 or a pressuremounted activator 18 is shown in FIG. 2. The activator may also beconnected to the flush handle 10 to activate the fan 14 when the toiletis flushed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the activator is a pressure activation sensor 18attached to the conduit 12. The activator 18 is a toilet seatweight-sensing switch for selectively interacting with toilet seat 8 andthe conduit 12. The toilet seat weight-sensing switch 18 of theactivator is operatively connected to the fan 14 and is for activatingwhen the seat 8 of the toilet 4 is sat upon.

The activation sensor 18 is a pressure switch that automaticallyactuates the fan 14 when a predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto the toilet seat 8. The pressure switch 18 may include a delay so thatthe fan 14 continues to be actuated for a predetermined amount of timeafter the pressure is no longer applied to the toilet seat 8. This delaywould allow any odor that remains in the toilet bowl 6 after the userleaves to be exhausted through the apparatus 2. This could also beaccomplished by programming the fan 14 to run for a predetermined amountof time after the activator 18 is released.

The apparatus may further comprise a toilet flush handle switch 10. Thetoilet flush handle switch 10 is operatively connected to the flushhandle 10 of the toilet 4 and is for activating the fan 14 when theflush handle of the toilet 4 is activated.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the foul air is recirculated backinto the room after being treated with an odor removing filter 16 and inan additional embodiment a fragrance introducing means is added to thefilter 16. The filter 16 may be an activated charcoal filter wherein thefoul air is neutralized or the filter may contain some other mediumcapable neutralizing the foul air. In the example where the foul air isexhausted out of the room and building through the vent pipe 20, asshown in FIG. 2, the filter 16 and/or fragrance introducing is notnecessary.

The fan 14 requires energy to perform its functions. Although the powersource for the fan 14 can be derived from numerous sources, typicallythe power source is household AC current supplied by adapter plug thatfits into a standard electrical outlet, as this power source present inmost households. Alternatively, the fan 14 could be directly configuredinto the standard electric grid of the building or house. Alternatively,the power source could be derived from a battery or standard electriccurrent reduced to the equivalency of a battery. The fan 14 is activatedby one or more activators or switches 18 that can be electricallyconnected to fan 14.

In operation and use, foul air is drawn away from a region generallydefined by toilet bowl 6 once the fan 14 has been activated. Asdisclosed previously, activation is either by the user manuallyactivating manual activator/switch 18, by toilet seat 8 depressingautomatic switch 18 by the weight of the user or by activating aproximity sensor 26 detecting the presence of a user.

When activated, the fan 14 creates a vacuum that draws air from theregion generally defined by toilet bowl 6 into the conduit 14 having anopening or aperture into the bowl 6 area. From the conduit 14, the airis drawn through the conduit 14 and past the fan 14, and into the filter16 or vent pipe 20. As shown in FIG. 2 the conduit may extend out as atube to the fan 14 where the fan 14 is housed within the conduit 12.

In an additional embodiment the apparatus 2 may also include a soundgeneration device 28 of most any known devise known. Typically, thesound generator is relatively small and provides sufficient volume as tomask the sounds of the user and in an embodiment the fan 14. The soundgenerator 28 may be activated the activator/switch 18 which alsoactivates the fan 14. The sound generator 28 may play music or othersounds to mask the use of the toilet 4 or the operation of the fan 14.

While Applicant has set forth embodiments as illustrated and describedabove, it is recognized that variations may be made with respect todisclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the invention has been disclosedin various forms only, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat many additions, deletions and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention, and no unduelimits should be imposed except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for venting objectionable odors froma toilet bowl, the toilet bowl having an upper rim thereon forsupporting a toilet seat, comprising: a conduit being disposed on theupper rim of the toilet bowl and under the toilet seat, the conduithaving an opening in communication with the toilet bowl for drawing airfrom the bowl; a fan fluidly connected to the conduit for drawing airthrough the conduit and from the bowl; a filter fluidly connected to thefan receiving the drawn air and cleansing the air; an activatoroperatively connected to the fan for engaging the fan.
 2. The apparatusfor venting objectionable odors of claim 1, further including a ventstack extending communicatingly from the fan and the vent stackextending out from a dwelling into the outside air.
 3. The apparatus forventing objectionable odors of claim 1, further including a fragrancedispenser within the conduit for treating the air drawn from the bowl.4. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1, wherein thefan is powered by standard electrical outlet power.
 5. The apparatus forventing objectionable odors of claim 1, wherein the fan is powered by 12volts, the 12 volts provided by a plug/transformer plugging intostandard electrical outlet power.
 6. The apparatus for ventingobjectionable odors of claim 1, wherein the fan is powered by a battery.7. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1, furtherincluding a pressure switch activator attached to the conduit disposedon the upper rim of the toilet and under the toilet seat bottom surfacefor actuating the fan when a predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto the toilet seat.
 8. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors ofclaim 7, wherein the pressure switch includes a delay so that the fancontinues to be actuated for a predetermined amount of time after thepredetermined amount of pressure is no longer applied to the toiletseat.
 9. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 1,further including a sound generator operatively connected to theactivator such that when the fan is activated music or sounds are playedto mask the sounds of a user of the toilet.
 10. The apparatus forventing objectionable odors of claim 1, further including a motion senoractivator activating the fan at a predetermined interval.
 11. Anapparatus for venting objectionable odors from a toilet bowl, the toiletbowl having an upper rim thereon for supporting a toilet seat,comprising: a conduit being disposed on the upper rim of the toilet bowland under the toilet seat, the conduit having an opening incommunication with the toilet bowl for drawing air from the bowl; a fanfluidly connected to the conduit for drawing air through the conduit andfrom the bowl; a vent stack extending communicatingly from the fan andthe vent stack extending out from a dwelling into the outside air; andan activator operatively connected to the fan for engaging the fan. 12.The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11, furtherincluding a filter fluidly connected to the fan receiving the drawn airand cleansing the air.
 13. The apparatus for venting objectionable odorsof claim 11, further including a pressure switch activator attached tothe conduit disposed on the upper rim of the toilet and under the toiletseat bottom surface for actuating the fan when a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the toilet seat.
 14. The apparatus for ventingobjectionable odors of claim 11, further including a sound generatoroperatively connected to the activator such that when the fan isactivated music or sounds are played to mask the sounds of a user of thetoilet.
 15. The apparatus for venting objectionable odors of claim 11,further including a motion senor activator activating the fan at apredetermined interval.
 16. The apparatus for venting objectionableodors of claim 11, further including a fragrance dispenser within theconduit for treating the air drawn from the bowl.
 17. The apparatus forventing objectionable odors of claim 1, wherein the fan is powered by abattery.
 18. An apparatus for venting objectionable odors from a toiletbowl, the toilet bowl having an upper rime thereon for supporting atoilet seat, comprising: a conduit being disposed on the upper rim ofthe toilet bowl and under the toilet seat, the conduit having an openingin communication with the toilet bowl for drawing air from the bowl; afan fluidly connected to the conduit for drawing air through the conduitand from the bowl; a filter fluidly connected to the fan receiving thedrawn air and cleansing the air; an activator operatively connected tothe fan for engaging the fan, wherein the activator is a pressure switchactivator attached to the conduit disposed on the upper rim of thetoilet and under the toilet seat bottom surface for actuating the fanwhen a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the toilet seat;and a sound generator operatively connected to the activator such thatwhen the fan is activated music or sounds are played to mask the soundsof a user of the toilet.
 19. The apparatus for venting objectionableodors of claim 18, further including a vent stack extendingcommunicatingly from the fan and the vent stack extending out from adwelling into the outside air.
 20. The apparatus for ventingobjectionable odors of claim 18, further including a fragrance dispenserwithin the conduit for treating the air drawn from the bowl.